[health-vn] Thua Thien – Hue: Scabies attacks 7,000 families

[Vern Weitzel]

For more information on scabies see CDC Web page: http://www.cdc.gov/scabies/


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/03/839053/

Thua Thien – Hue: Scabies attacks 7,000 families
11:51' 30/03/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Scabies has become an epidemic in nine communes of the 
mountainous district of Nam Dong, in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue.

Local residents are struggling with scabies. Many have had to give up their job 
and studies because of this disease.

“Since scabies appeared, my family could not sleep. The disease is getting 
worse. We could not go to the fields because we stay at home to scratch,” said 
farmer Doan Van Pec in village 6, Thuong Long commune, Nam Dong district.

He said that all villagers are infected with this disease and children are 
suffering the most. “My two children cry every night because of itchiness,” Pec 
said.

Pec’s arms had many pieces of black scabies. His hands constantly scratch 
everywhere on his body.

“It is so terrible living with scabies. We can’t even eat because of scabies. My 
first child can’t go to school because of scabies. His groins have suppurated 
because of scratching,” Pec added.

Pec’s children have not gone to school since they were infected with scabies 
because they will be itchier if they wear clothes.

Before they were attacked by the disease, all villagers went to the field in the 
early morning. Nowadays, many people stay at home to scratch. It is more 
miserable for mothers.

Hoang Thi Thuon’s baby cried all day because of scabies and a lack of mother’s 
milk because Thuon’s nipples were ulcerated.

Thuon said the baby’s skin is thin so she cannot apply medicine on the baby, but 
has been bathing the child with herbs.

“We couldn’t go to the field. Whenever we held the hoe, we had to release it to 
scratch,” Thuon said.

At the primary school of Nam Dong district, over 150 students had to quit school 
to treat scabies.

“We have to let them stay at home to avoid spreading scabies to other students,” 
said teacher Hoang Tam.

There are nearly 600 people suffering from scabies in villages 4 and 6 in Thuong 
Long commune. They do not know how to cure scabies, just by bathing by 
traditional medicines like herbs, wine, or scorpions.

Next to Thuong Long commune, 2,000 families in Thuong Nhat commune were infected 
with scabies.

The chief of the health station of Thuong Nhat commune, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, 
said the station delivered medicines to local residents, but because of 
unhygienic lifestyle, this disease returned and spread quickly.

The Chairman of Thuong Long commune, Doan Van Van, said most local residents 
cannot afford to buy medicines. The local government allocated medicines to the 
people but they need more medicines to control scabies.

VietNamNet/TP